Academy Alumni: Game Winners and Game Changers

ACADEMYJun 1, 2015

Men’s National TeamU.S. MNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named four Development Academy alumni to the roster for the USA’s upcoming friendlies against No.6-ranked Netherlands on June 5, and reigning FIFA World Cup champion Germany on June 10. Both matches will be contested in Europe, where the team has begun to gather. The four players named to the 21-player roster are Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls Academy), Aron Johannsson (IMG Academy), DeAndre Yedlin (Crossfire Premier & Seattle Sounders Academy) and Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy Academy). All four have previously participated with the MNT in 2015, with Agudelo and Johannsson impacting as goal scorers, and Yedlin and Zardes providing assists.

Under-23 Men’s National TeamThe U-23’s are currently in France participating in the 2015 Toulon Tournament. In the team’s opening match of the tournament, Academy alumni Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders Academy) tallied a goal for the USA. Despite his efforts however, the team fell 2-1 to France. Days later, the USA bounced back with a 3-1 victory over the Netherlands, with Morris providing an assist during one of the scores. On May 31, the team once again fell to Costa Rica, again by a 2-1 score line. Academy alumni Fatai Alashe (Vardar) was the sole goal scorer for the USA.

Will Bruin (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri) scored a goal in the 16th minute against NYCFC.

Philadelphia Union’s Andrew Wenger (PA Classics) gave his team the lead in the 5thminute by providing an assist on Sebastien Le Toux’s score. D.C. United’s Taylor Kemp (Real Colorado) then went on to provide the assist to Chris Pontius’ game equalizing goal before halftime. Pontius’ goal was the spark in the fire as D.C. United went on to win 2-1.